Thermoregulated multilayer material characterized in that it comprises at least one substrate and one thermoregulated layer, said thermoregulated multilayer material having: for λ radiation of between 0.25 and 2 μm, an absorption coefficient αm≥0.8; and, for incident λ radiation of between 7.5 and 10 μm, a reflection coefficient ρm: ρm≥0.85, when the temperature T of said multilayer material 1 is ≤100° C.; ρm between 0.3 and 0.85, when the temperature T of said multilayer material is between 0 and 400° C.

A thermoelectric generator consists of circuits arranged in parallel rows, in which thermocouples in adjacent rows are facing each other by the same-named junctions, forming alternating narrow zones of hot and cold junctions. At least one of the layers is a layer of thermal energy thermocouples, the repeatability of the rows of circuits of which is two times less than the repeatability of the rows of circuits of thermocouples generating electricity. Hot and cold zones between the rows of thermocouple circuits of all layers of thermocouples generating electricity and hot and cold junctions of the rows of thermocouple circuits of thermal energy are superimposed, respectively, by tight contact on each other by junctions and substrates, ensuring internal heat exchange between them. In addition, the generator is provided with an external heat supply circuit to the hot zone area and a heat removal circuit from the cold zone area.

Systems and methods for falling particle receivers are disclosed that include shield or deflector structures around the receiver aperture to reduce wind effects and/or heat losses from the falling particles. External and internal structures are disclosed that can be tailored to reduce particle, thermal, and radiative losses from within the cavity receiver due to external wind and the falling particles that are irradiated within the receiver. Structures of varying shapes, sizes, and composition (transparent, reflective) are described.

A deployable device includes a supporting structure, a mandrel able to move in rotation with respect to the supporting structure about a first axis Z, a membrane able to pass from a rolled-up configuration rolled up around the mandrel about the first axis Z to a deployed configuration deployed along a second axis X substantially perpendicular to the first axis Z. The device comprises two fittings secured to the mandrel at their centre, arranged one on either side of the membrane and comprising first stubs on their periphery, a casing extending between the two fittings, the casing comprising second stubs of a shape complementing the shape of the first stubs, the casing being able to pass from a rolled-up configuration at least partially enveloping the membrane in the rolled-up configuration to a deployed configuration at least partially superposed on the membrane in the deployed configuration.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a surface, in particular at solar collectors or photovoltaic installations. The apparatus has at least one cleaning head that comprises at least one cleaning member. The cleaning member is in particular a brush that can be set into rotation. The apparatus furthermore has a movement device for moving the cleaning head over at least a part of the surface to be cleaned. The movement device has a first movement unit movable in a first direction and a second movement unit. The cleaning head is movable transversely or obliquely to the first movement direction by means of the second movement unit along a guide means that is connected to the first movement unit. A control means that is arranged at the first and/or second movement units makes it possible to automatically move the first movement unit in dependence on a position of the second movement unit.

The invention relates to a method for operating a system at an operating temperature of between 300° C. and 500° C., using a heat transfer fluid comprising branched siloxanes of general formula (I) (R.sub.3SiO.sub.1/2), (SiO.sub.4/2) in which w represents integral values of between 4 and 20, z represents integral values of between 1 and 15, and R represents a methyl group, the sum of the fractions of all siloxanes of general formula (1) being at least 95 mass %, in relation to the whole heat transfer fluid.

A cleaning system and method can include a leading carriage assembly attached to a brush assembly and can be configured to drive the brush assembly. A trailing carriage assembly can be configured to move along a track. The trailing carriage assembly can be attached to an arm. A vertical support rod can be partially disposed within the arm and can be attached to the brush assembly. A height of the vertical support rod can be positioned by one or more clamps located around the vertical support rod.

A thermal receiver, such as a solar flux thermal receiver, is disclosed comprising a modular arrangement of arrayed microchannels or micropins to heat a working fluid by heat transfer. Disclosed solar receivers provide a much higher solar flux and consequently a significant reduction in thermal losses, size, and cost, relative to known receivers. Unit cell receivers can be numbered up and combined in parallel to form modules, and modules combined to form full scale receivers.

Provided are solar collection energy storage and energy conversion or chemical conversion systems. Also provided are tubing components, such as for solar receivers, including Mo and having a MoSiB coating on an external surface. The systems can include a solar receiver containing a heat transfer material or chemically reacting material and can operate at temperatures of 700° C. or higher. The solar receiver can include tubing components selected from a Mo tubing component, a MAX phase material tubing component, a MoSiB composite tubing component, or a combination thereof. The Mo component, when present, can include a coating on surfaces of the Mo component that operate above 700° C.

Thermally insulating materials (TIMs) for use in concentrated solar thermal (CST) technologies comprising a mesoporous oxide including a porous oxide matrix comprising a porous oxide and a metal oxide or metal nitride in the form of a conformal layer of the metal oxide or metal nitride on the surface of the porous oxide matrix, wherein the conformal layer completely covers the surface area of the porous oxide matrix, or in the form of metal oxide or metal nitride nanoparticles dispersed throughout the porous oxide matrix, or in the form of a conformal coating or nanoparticles, methods of preparing same, and solar devices comprising same.